Help!!!!!!!!!!!

[GooglezNvincent]

So how am I to take when my female chameleon of about 6 months has not really been eating for 2-3 weeks, has been digging many holes in that time, but I see her occasionally up top by the heat lamp or sitting on top of the ficus which is mid cage range. She is relatively green most of the time and for a while she looked a little thin but in the last couple days she looked a little fatter, but I don’t see or feel n e lumps in her belly. As you can tell she is REALLY CONFUSING!!!!!!! I looked at my spread sheet and she has been acting gravid since 2/21. is it bad that I have force fed her 1 silk worm and 1 dusted cricket? Oh yeah I also caught her drinking one time and I had a dropper (for ears) and I sucked up some water mixed with reptivite and dropped some in her mouth so she would definitely be strong enough to lay her eggs. Lol what else do I need to do for her?!!!!!

 

[jannb]

Do you have a laying bin for her?

 

[GooglezNvincent]

Do you have a laying bin for her?

about 6'' high, 2 of them, the ficus are planted in them

 

[sandrachameleon]

That she is apparently abandoning holes she was digging, perhaps there is something inadequate about the laying bin provided, or she has been disturbed by seeing you, children, cats, dog whatever.

 

[GooglezNvincent]

That she is apparently abandoning holes she was digging, perhaps there is something inadequate about the laying bin provided, or she has been disturbed by seeing you, children, cats, dog whatever.

Have had the whole cage wrapped in towels! and the doors closed so nothing can bother her, but ima take some really good pictures of her becasue i honestly dont think she is gravid based on her belly

 

[jannb]

Do you have a chameleon vet?

 

[GooglezNvincent]

Do you have a chameleon vet?

Yeah but do you think i should take her there? she doesnt look emaciated or n e thing.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Laying container should have at least 12" of moist medium that can hold a tunnel.
Do Not force feed her.
It's only been 21 days since she has been "acting gravid" ... please describe "acting gravid" including eating and changes of color.

-Brad

 

[GooglezNvincent]

Laying container should have at least 12" of moist medium that can hold a tunnel.
Do Not force feed her.
It's only been 21 days since she has been "acting gravid" ... please describe "acting gravid" including eating and changes of color.

-Brad

She was climbing on the ceiling and walls of the cage and also was seen napping on the ground on the 21st, i put some soil in but it obviously wasnt deep enough as i just learned from you. Ummmm, not a change in color as this is her first cycle. She stopped eating from what i saw. Oh! what threw me off and makes me thing she just went on a hunger strike is that i put a silky on a leaf by her and she stared at it and then started to put her tongue out like she was going to strike it, but then she stopped, turned away and ignored it Lol she just likes to toy with me! shes in a 18x18x36 mesh cage, has Uvb and Uva. Uvb is a tube light, 5.0 i believe and Uva is a red night light 75 watt. She has 2 ficus that grow about halfway up the cage and then i have an exoterra vine and 4 fake plants for her to climb high to bask. Never had a problem with burns or n e thing so you dont need to worry about that. What else.......... as i stated before she looked a little thin up until 2 days ago and now shes looking a little fuller/plumper. i have only taken her out twice and that was when she was on the top basking, her grip is still VERY strong and she was active and walked a good amount, but then rested on my hand for a couple minutes while my gf checked for eggs, then i put her back. I dust her crickets 3-6 a day, before the hunger strike, and 2-4 silkys every other day and 1-3 mealworms every other day. She has a dripper that i keep constantly dripping fairly slowly and i also mist her and her cage 2-4 times a day. Normal temps at 70-80 with basking spot at 87 and humidity varies from 45-60. Lemme know if you need any thing else, i promis i will get photos up this weekend because my friend is coming over with her really good camera. Thanks for all the help so far, and i hope this info helps you help me!!!

 

[KevinA]

She was was seen napping on the ground on the 21st,

This is not normal. It might be best to start a help thread with this information filled out

Also, you said she is 6 months old. That is pretty young to be breeding unless you perfectly mimic her natural environment, which you can't do inside.

How to ask for help!

Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Cage Info:
· Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
· Lighting - What brand, model, and type of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
· Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
· Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
· Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
· Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?

Chameleon Info:
· Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
· Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
· Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
· Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
· Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
· Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
· History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
· Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

Pictures are helpful

wasnt deep enough as i just learned from you.

You said you have some pots in her cage or something. I remove the bottom of my females cages and place them on top of a large storage bin. I then provide something so they can climb down and lay in the storage bin full of laying medium(organic soil). I don't think it is reasonable for you to expect a female to dig and lay in a plant pot.

Uvb is a tube light, 5.0 i believe and Uva is a red night light 75 watt.

Why would you be using a red night light bulb? The sun doesn't resemble the color of those bulbs. Would you want to live your life seeing everything in an odd colored light? Use a regular color light bulb and if you believe you have a 5.0, I would check to see if you actually do and what brand it is and how old it is.

Overall, I think you need to work on things a little before you go full steam ahead in trying to produce chameleons, but that's just me and I could be wrong.

 

[beeze]

I would say a vet visit is in order.

 

[BocaJan]

As Brad said, a laying bin should be about 12" deep with either playground sand or sand and dirt that has no fertilizers in it. I use plain playground sand in a bathroom rubbermaid trash can. It gives her enough room to turn around and choose a spot without trying to squeeze in someplace.

 

[GooglezNvincent]

This is not normal. It might be best to start a help thread with this information filled out

Also, you said she is 6 months old. That is pretty young to be breeding unless you perfectly mimic her natural environment, which you can't do inside.

How to ask for help!

Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Cage Info:
· Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
· Lighting - What brand, model, and type of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
· Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
· Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
· Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
· Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?

Chameleon Info:
· Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
· Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
· Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
· Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
· Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
· Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
· History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
· Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

Pictures are helpful



You said you have some pots in her cage or something. I remove the bottom of my females cages and place them on top of a large storage bin. I then provide something so they can climb down and lay in the storage bin full of laying medium(organic soil). I don't think it is reasonable for you to expect a female to dig and lay in a plant pot.


Why would you be using a red night light bulb? The sun doesn't resemble the color of those bulbs. Would you want to live your life seeing everything in an odd colored light? Use a regular color light bulb and if you believe you have a 5.0, I would check to see if you actually do and what brand it is and how old it is.

Overall, I think you need to work on things a little before you go full steam ahead in trying to produce chameleons, but that's just me and I could be wrong.

May be you should pay attention! IM NOT TRYING TO BREED HER! SHE IS GOING THROUGH HER FIRST CYCLE AND IS LAYING INFERTILE EGGS

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."not a change in color as this is her first cycle"....they can change colors even for their first cycle.

Is she not digging anymore??
Sleeping or resting on the floor of the cage or low down in the cage?

 

[GooglezNvincent]

You said..."not a change in color as this is her first cycle"....they can change colors even for their first cycle.

Is she not digging anymore??
Sleeping or resting on the floor of the cage or low down in the cage?

She has no color change, i dont see her on the ground, or on the sides of the cage but i do know she still is digging.

 

[lanceman]

One of mine refuses to lay in her cage she holds out till i put her in a large clean garbage can with at least 12" of sand as was mentioned. Infertile eggs can be very small half the size of a jellybean and if it isnt a large clutch it would be very hard to tell they are there.

 

[panthercrazy]

One of mine refuses to lay in her cage she holds out till i put her in a large clean garbage can with at least 12" of sand as was mentioned. Infertile eggs can be very small half the size of a jellybean and if it isnt a large clutch it would be very hard to tell they are there.

My girl was doing the same in her cage laying bin...I moved her to the garbage can at 10 am, by 2:30pm she had laid fertile clutch, and almost covered the hole completely.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/possibly-gravid-21454/

 

[GooglezNvincent]

One of mine refuses to lay in her cage she holds out till i put her in a large clean garbage can with at least 12" of sand as was mentioned. Infertile eggs can be very small half the size of a jellybean and if it isnt a large clutch it would be very hard to tell they are there.

TY, ill take her plants out and check them extremely thoroughly!

 

[GooglezNvincent]

My girl was doing the same in her cage laying bin...I moved her to the garbage can at 10 am, by 2:30pm she had laid fertile clutch, and almost covered the hole completely.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/possibly-gravid-21454/

So what is it with the garbage bin? no where to go, nothing to bother them and they feel really safe so they lay them? ill try it out!

 

[GooglezNvincent]

Ok here are some good pictures.